AMD's Radeon HD 6990 is in our lab

What's this colossal piece of computing kit that's just turned up? Why, it appears to be AMD's new Radeon HD 6990. At least, that's what it says in big letters on the front of the card.

We can only speculate (actually we know; we just can't tell you yet), but it looks as though AMD's new top-end monster graphics card is getting achingly close to its launch date. So much so, in fact, that our review sample has already landed, ready to be thrashed in our test systems.

As we reported in January, the Radeon HD 6990 has a total of five display outputs - one DVI port and four mini-DisplayPort outputs, and the cooler design looks very similar to the prototype we saw at the beginning of the year too.

The rear panel looks very different to the Radeon HD 6970's backplate, though. For example, the rear vent stretches all the way along the panel, whereas the Radeon HD 6970's vent only runs half way down the backplate before making way for a DVI port. This makes sense, given that the card is rumoured to have two GPUs to cool.

With all these connectors, it doesn't take a massive brain to work out that the graphics card will be able to drive five monitors, and support Eyefinity in 5x1 configurations too. AMD has also told us that EA's Dragon Age II will fully support both HD3D and Eyefinity 5x1 configurations in portrait mode.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The Radeon HD 6990 certainly looks like a powerful piece of kit. Keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks for our full review.

Are you eagerly waiting for the Radeon HD 6990 to hit the shelves? Are you planning on investing in an Eyefinity setup in 2011? Let us know in the forums.

It's a shame ATI/AMD don't use a reference cooler that plays nice with multi GPU set ups - speaking of which, I've noticed you crafty devils haven't taken any shots which let us know if it's Crossfire capable (or what power plugs it needs)!

I want companies to go one step further. Rather than spreading an image across 5 monitors, I want to be able to load up a map on one screen, inventory on another, leadboards on another, then maybe my desktop on a fourth and finally a screen with the game itself on.

Is that too much to ask? Stop making **** systems like this with 5 or 6 monitors that simply stretch the screen out further. Noone needs it, and judging by the uptake, the vast majority don't want it. Do something useful with the technology; work with software developers to make USE of those extra monitors.

Hmm not sure about the fan being in the middle. Does that mean it will have a GPU either side of the fan? Heat from 1 GPU going back into case, heat from second GPU being exhausted? Either way I'm eager to find out bit-tech's results!

Originally Posted by WildThingHmm not sure about the fan being in the middle. Does that mean it will have a GPU either side of the fan? Heat from 1 GPU going back into case, heat from second GPU being exhausted? Either way I'm eager to find out bit-tech's results!

It looks like you will need a very big computer case to fit that GPU into. It should fit my 800D without any problems , but I have a GTX580 already ordered and dont plan on changing the GTX580 for a few years.

Originally Posted by Ph4lanxI want companies to go one step further. Rather than spreading an image across 5 monitors, I want to be able to load up a map on one screen, inventory on another, leadboards on another, then maybe my desktop on a fourth and finally a screen with the game itself on.

Is that too much to ask? Stop making **** systems like this with 5 or 6 monitors that simply stretch the screen out further. Noone needs it, and judging by the uptake, the vast majority don't want it. Do something useful with the technology; work with software developers to make USE of those extra monitors.

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ph4lanxThey might take it, but why do you think nVidia are holding back their dual-GPU offering? To make sure they smash this one out the park.

I was thinking about this at the weekend. No matter whether your card is better, the same or inferior, you push it out as soon as possible to grab those early adopters. You do not delay a cards release though, you lose out. I imagine Nvidia's card is just not ready yet.

Originally Posted by Ph4lanxI want companies to go one step further. Rather than spreading an image across 5 monitors, I want to be able to load up a map on one screen, inventory on another, leadboards on another, then maybe my desktop on a fourth and finally a screen with the game itself on.

Is that too much to ask? Stop making **** systems like this with 5 or 6 monitors that simply stretch the screen out further. Noone needs it, and judging by the uptake, the vast majority don't want it. Do something useful with the technology; work with software developers to make USE of those extra monitors.

Actually there is a big user base out there, and always has been, people seem to forget multi monitor systems have been out for a long time.
And theres barely any true PC games out there nowadays and you want something that sophisticated, and as quoted by you, the vast majority don't want even the basic multi-monitor support.

Tbh all this multi-monitor whine is just tiresome, i guarantee almost every person who actually had a chance to play one would, walk away wanting one.

Originally Posted by Ph4lanxI want companies to go one step further. Rather than spreading an image across 5 monitors, I want to be able to load up a map on one screen, inventory on another, leadboards on another, then maybe my desktop on a fourth and finally a screen with the game itself on.

Is that too much to ask? Stop making **** systems like this with 5 or 6 monitors that simply stretch the screen out further. Noone needs it, and judging by the uptake, the vast majority don't want it. Do something useful with the technology; work with software developers to make USE of those extra monitors.

Personally, i think that Eyefinity is far more desirable than some 3D gubbins that make you sit in front of a screen for hours to pick up a blinding headache. You don't have to use every screen in eyefinity mode either, you can do various cloned or extended combinations.

As for the card itself, i suspect it will be complete overkill and out of the price range of most, however will probably regain the 'single card' crown, at least until we see Nvidia's much touted offering.

I borrowed 3 AOC 619FH monitors from the office for two weeks a couple of months ago during my vacation to see what the multi monitor fuss was about...

While it was cool for about 3 days, the fish eye lens effect just annoyed the crap out of me. Some games looked fine but the majority of them just looked wrong. Granted most games aren't designed to run on 3 screens but some of the newer ones probably are. Maybe I just don't "get" the whole multi monitor thing though...

That being said, it still looks like a beast of a card though. I'm considering getting rid of the GTX260 SLI so I might go with one of these instead. Although as always I'll wait for some actual reviews etc first :p

Originally Posted by Ph4lanxI want companies to go one step further. Rather than spreading an image across 5 monitors, I want to be able to load up a map on one screen, inventory on another, leadboards on another, then maybe my desktop on a fourth and finally a screen with the game itself on.

Is that too much to ask? Stop making **** systems like this with 5 or 6 monitors that simply stretch the screen out further. Noone needs it, and judging by the uptake, the vast majority don't want it. Do something useful with the technology; work with software developers to make USE of those extra monitors.

Your complaint will have to be mostly with the game developers on that one. Both green and red teams have support out for multiple monitors, just plug and play up the maximum supported by your card(s) for the most part. The game developer just has to make the game take advantage of those extra displays. As already mentioned, there are already games that use multiple monitors and they don't require any special hardware functions.

There's just no incentives for developers to add such support. Very few gamers use 2 monitors, let alone 3+. You see Eyefinity because it's all AMD: they can stretch any game whether the developer has added support or not, you just might get HUDs and such split. Supporting it just means allowing for movable HUD elements.

when quad gpu mobos were released, the problem is where to look for a case that could fit those mobos. the problem now is what case will it fit on that card. i dont know if my case now (xaser vi) could fit that big ass card!

Bleh. I am not a fan of multi monitor setups. Had a chance to see one in action for about 15 minutes and there is no way I can feel immersed by a game on separate screens. And to be honest, anything above a GTX 570 is overkill for modern games even for the rich among us who can afford 30" screens. Sure this card will be faster, but who cares if you are getting 80 instead of 60 fps at max details. What makes me a bit sad is how hardware manufacturers have to push gimmicks like Eyefinity in order to justify those uber cards. Let's face it, vast majority of PC titles do not push the ultra high end cards at all so the only way to justify them is to artificialy increase the resolution you are playing at. Can't get excited about these until we get games that actually take advantage of that extra oomph on a single screen. That or 4k displays/projectors. :)

I think even on bit tech it is rare to see people with multi monitor setups. And it's a PC enthusiast site. Multi-monitor gaming is a gimmick. Hell... compared to multi-monitor gaming setups 3D gaming looks like a common, casual user technology. Outside of professional use the adoption of Eyefinity is probably within the range of statistical error.

Man I just want the PS4/Xbox whatever out ASAP with something at least as fast as a 580 inside. If most games are made with a 7900 equivalent in mind no wonder the only way to push high end hardware is to force higher res or just throw AA at it until anything chokes. Soon we will probably see 64 or 128AA enabled just so people can say that they need a 500£ card to run the game at max details. Forgetting the fact that it is still the same old console optimised engine and the game looks exactly the same at 16AA or 64. Anyway, rant mode off.

Originally Posted by l3v1ckNope. I couldn't care less about multi GPU cards. I can't be doing with driver support issues in games.
I just want a single GPU that works well first time, every time.

+1
Dual GPU, Smual GPU, get out a fast single core. :D

I also don't get the "Eyefinity" hype.
I'd understand it if rimless monitors were common. But they're not even available.
And then I'd understand a 3x2 solution, not a 5x1.
Common monitors standing on end tend to have really bad viewing angles :|

I have just moved into a lovely new apartment, sea views, plentiful shoals of salmon. I therefore ask that you desist from testing this monstrosity, as I don't want my home floating out to sea. This happened to my cousin Herbert, who ended up in Newcastle, oh the humanity.

Originally Posted by jprykovwhen quad gpu mobos were released, the problem is where to look for a case that could fit those mobos. the problem now is what case will it fit on that card. i dont know if my case now (xaser vi) could fit that big ass card!

If that 6990 on the X58A OC is true size, then i could quite easily fit the 6990 in my CM Stacker 832SE with about an inch distance from the drive bays so i dont think your xaser will have any problems ;)

We weren't forwarded the PCB image by AMD, only the external shots. Either Anandtech was given something we weren't, has published an image they've dug up from somewhere which may or may not be the final PCB, or they're breaking the NDA.

Originally Posted by Zeus-Nolan2x 8 pin :O, but i would rather have that than 2 69** series GPUs in my pc tbh

True, if the scaling of the 6xxx series is continued into the 6990 and it offers most of the perfomance of 2 x 6970's whilst taking up one pcie slot, then it might be an attractive option. Price is the main factor though, as well as fan noise and thermals.

Originally Posted by Ph4lanxI want companies to go one step further. Rather than spreading an image across 5 monitors, I want to be able to load up a map on one screen, inventory on another, leadboards on another, then maybe my desktop on a fourth and finally a screen with the game itself on.

Is that too much to ask? Stop making **** systems like this with 5 or 6 monitors that simply stretch the screen out further. Noone needs it, and judging by the uptake, the vast majority don't want it. Do something useful with the technology; work with software developers to make USE of those extra monitors.

a lot of games do have peripheral vision which can only be seen in multi monitor set ups like flight simulators, racers, and FPS. RTS also take advantage of multiple monitors by showing more map. There is a way to mod the output to which and what monitors through 3rd party software the GPU configuration or the games console.

I play STALKER or ARMA II on one monitor, my inventory is always open on another monitor, while a third monitor has video skype going and the internet or whatever.

Originally Posted by l3v1ckNope. I couldn't care less about multi GPU cards. I can't be doing with driver support issues in games.
I just want a single GPU that works well first time, every time.

Not quite sure what games you have been playing? I have owned 9800GX2 since a week or so of it being released and play games within the first month or so of them being released. I never have had these issues that you guys find so hard and terrible. Other websites seems to find good gains from multi GPU card.